QUESTION PERIOD — Global Affairs
Canada-China Relations
June 4, 2025
Senator Gold, my question is simple, but it is urgent.
As all Canadians know, Beijing has retaliated against Canada’s new tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, EVs for short, by targeting our seafood exports, a move that directly threatens thousands of jobs in Nova Scotia and across Atlantic Canada. Our many fishing communities, which have absolutely nothing to do with the EV industry, are caught in this crossfire. Coupled with protections, policies and tariffs from the U.S., the fishing industry now finds itself with restricted access to its two largest markets. The U.S. tariffs are at 10%, but the Beijing tariffs are at 25%.
Why should Atlantic Canada be penalized because of bad business decisions made in Ottawa?
Thank you for your question and for underlining for those in this chamber and those who are watching the impact that these tariffs are having on the fishing sector in your province and region, as it is in many other areas — the agriculture sector, canola and others — upon which Canadian businesses and families depend.
This government has been very clear about how it is going to approach its relationship with China. It will always, at all times, act in the best interests of Canadians to defend their national interests and to deal with and engage with China in a pragmatic, focused way, based upon creating a different and sound basis for areas where we can work together when it is in the Canadian interest.
In this respect, the government is engaged with its counterparts to evaluate how best to proceed in what has been and will remain a very complicated relationship with a country that is asserting itself in the world in ways to which we must respond in a very careful, mindful and diligent manner.
Senator Gold, these tariffs are a retaliation by China towards us because of our position on tariffs.
Did the government consider the consequences of Chinese retaliation before imposing a 100% tariff on Chinese EVs? We’re hearing that these multi-million dollar investments in electric vehicle battery plants, which were used to justify these tariffs, are already facing delays and uncertainty. We don’t know if the one in Quebec will even occur, and Stellantis has stopped all of its production and progress.
Was it worth risking key export sectors like seafood and agriculture to protect an EV strategy that may not even materialize?
The whole structure of international trade — and, therefore, by extension and by consequence, international relationships — is in turmoil as a result of actions that no Canadian government or Canadian political party or leader ever desired, but it is upon us. This government is focused with laser attention on navigating through these difficult times in this rapidly changing world. Canadians should have confidence that this government, which enjoys the support of millions of Canadians and was working carefully with premiers, the territories and provinces, with Indigenous leaders and business and union leaders, will chart the best course forward for Canada.
Time will tell, but the government is focused and determined to serve Canadians through this and chart a course through these very challenging times.
